Scoring device



L. D. BROWN SCORING DEVICE Filed Jan. 51, 1942 July 6, 1943.

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ATTORIVFV YPatented July 6, 1943 SCORING DEVICE Lorenzo Dale Brown,Concord, N. H.

Application January 31, 1942, Serial No. 429,081

Claims.

My invention relates to scoring devices and has particular reference toa scoring device to be used in connection with the playing of the gameof cribbage or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a scoring devicehaving inclined holes to receive the scoring pins so that the scoringpins are held inclined in the direction of their proper movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal which isactuated by the insertion of a scoring pininto a selected hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal device of theabove-mentioned character which is of simple construction and which isautomatically actuated by the insertion of the scoring pin into ascoring hole without the operator being called upon to perform anyadditional function.

Other` objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.`

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure l is a plan view of a scoring device or cribbage board embodyingmy invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detailed vertical section taken on f line 5 5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is 'a View similar to Figure, showing the signal elementprojected to the outer position, v f

Figure 'I is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the board, showing ascoring pin receiving pocket, l

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 8 8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8, and,

Figure 10 is a side elevation of one of the scoring pins.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates a boardwhich is preferably rectangular. This board is provided with two pairsof longitudinal outer and inner rows of scoring openings II and I2,arranged near its opposite longitudinal edges.

The openings in each pair of longitudinal rows of openings are dividedtransversely into units I3, each unit comprising a pair of short rows ofopenings, and each short row containing five openings, as shown. Theopenings II in each outer longitudinal row II are vertically inclined tothe right, indicating the direction in which the scoring pins are to bemoved, the pin starting from the iirst hole II to the left. The openingsI2 in each inner longitudinal row are inclined vertically to the left inthe direction which the scoring pins are to be moved. This is trueexcept for the last opening I2 to the left. The board is provided with alongitudinal row of intermediate vertical openings I4, which are shorterthan the scoring openings II and I2. The openings I 4 in theintermediate row are arranged in groups of ve each. The openings I4receive scoring pins to indicate the number of games won. The board I0is provided near its left end with pairs oi vertical openings I5, toreceive scoring pins when not in use.

A signal device is provided for use in connection with each pair of rowsof openings II and I2. This signal device comprises a U-shaped tube I 8,Figure 5, which is vertically arranged. The vertical arms I6 of thisU-shaped tube are held within openings I1 while the bottom of theU-shaped tube is held within a recess I8, closed by a plug,r I9 ofplastic wood or the like. One vertical arm I6 of the U-shaped tube I6 isarranged at the inner end of each inner row of openings I2, and the boreof this arm constitutes an opening I2, corresponding to the openings I2,and serving to complete the inner row of openings I2. The other arm ofthe U-shaped tube is arranged inwardly of and adjacent to the openingsI5. The signalv element comprises a flexible closed coil spring 2B,mounted within the U-shaped tube I6, and movable longitudinally withinthe same. A small headed pin 2I has its shank held within the end of thecoil spring 2l) at the opening I2 and this headed pin is adapted to movedownwardly into the vertical arm of the tube. A large headed pin 22 isarranged at the opposite arm of the U- shaped tube and has its shankheld within the coil spring. The head 22 is larger than the bore of thetube and cannot be moved into the same. When the end of the springcarrying the pin 2l is forced downwardly, Figure 6, the opposite end ofthe spring is projected upwardly beyond the surface of the board,producing a visual signal element, It is thus seen that a signal deviceis provided for use with each pair of rows of openings Il and I2.

Upcn its lower surface, preferably at the right end thereof, the boardis provided with a recess or pocket 23 for receiving the scoring pins24. This recess may be covered and uncovered by a sliding door 25.

In the use of the scoring device or board, the scoring pin 24 is startedin the first opening Il to the left cf the outer longitudinal row, andafter the score is made the pin is advanced to the right, in thedirection in which it is nclined, for the number of holes, dependingupon the score made. A second pin may be employed at the rear of thefirst pin for indicating the number of scores made during each play. Thepin is advanced to the right along the outer row of holes Il and whenthe inner row of holes I2 is reached the pin is advanced to the left inan opposite direction and in the direction in which it is inclined. Whenthe left end of the inner row is reached, the pin is inserted in thelast opening I2 and may or may not stop at this opening, depending uponthe score last made. The score may advance the pin into the opening Ilof the outer longitudinal row before it is brought to rest. However, assoon as the pin is inserted into the opening I2 it is forced downwardlytherein and the spring 20 has its free end carrying the pin 22 projectedupwardly above the board, for a substantial distance thus producing avisual signal. The signal is thus actuated by the player without causingthe player to perform any function other than inserting the signalelement to the retracted position and raise the headed pin 2|. Since theheaded pin 22 cannot enter the bore of the tube, it cannot be depressedbelow the surface of the board to improperly provide a signal.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

.1.. A scoring device comprising a board having openings passing throughits upper surface, said board having a Ll-shaped opening passing throughits upper surface, one end of the U- shaped opening being assembled withthe first named openings and forming therewith a. selected opening, anexible element arranged within the Ll-shaped opening, and a scoring pinfor insertion within the selected opening and adapted to depress one endof the flexible element and project the opposite end above the uppersurface of the board.

2. A scoring device comprising a board having longitudinal rows ofscoring openings passing through its upper surface, said board having aU-shaped tubular guide, the opposite ends of the tubular guide passingthrough the upper surface of the board, one end of the U-shaped tubularguide being assembled with one row of openings to form an end opening, acoil spring' slidably mounted within the U-shaped tubular guide, and ascoring pin for insertion within the openings and adapted when insertedwithin the end opening to depress one end of the coil spring and projectits opposite end above the upper surface. of the board.

3. A scoring device comprising a board provided with a pair of rows ofopenings, passing through its upper face, a U-shaped tube secured to theboard and having its opposite ends arranged adjacent to the upper face,one end of the tube being assembled with the openings in one row to forman end opening of such row, a coil spring slidably mounted within theU-shaped tube, an element secured to one end of the coil spring andadapted to enter the tube, an element secured to the opposite end of thecoil spring and incapable of entering the tube, and a scoring pin forinsertion within the openings and adapted when inserted into said endopening to move the first named element downwardly within the tube andto project the opposite end of the spring above the upper face of theboard.

4. A scoring device comprising a board having openings passing throughits surface, said board having a generally U-shaped opening passingthrough said surface, one end of the generally U-shaped opening beingassembled with the rst named openings and forming therewith a selectedopening, a signal element mounted for longitudinal movement within thegenerally vU- shaped opening, and a scoring pin for insertion within theselected opening and adapted to engage with the signal element and tothereby move the signalr element longitudinally within the generallyU-shaped opening and to project said signal element outwardly beyond theother end of the generally U-shaped opening.

5. A scoring device comprising a body having a generally U-shapedopening, the ends of the opening passing through the same surface of thebody, and a exible signal element longitudinally movably mounted withinthe generally U- shaped opening, the flexible signal element being ofsuch a length that when one end of the same is depressed b-y a pininserted into one end of the opening to engage with one end of thenexible signal element and move the signal element longitudinally withinthe generally U- shaped opening the opposite end of the flexible signalelement will be projected beyond the opposite end of the generallyU-shaped opening,

LORENZO DALE BROWN.

